Multiplying machine



Oct. 3, 1939. J. M. CUNNINGHAM 7 0 I MULTIPLYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12,1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 aul/mv 50/ 2 0044 7777 7 6 f moii CIA 'CoLw WvSKIP y k/ ya .55

ATTORNEY Qct. 3, 1939. J. M. CUNNINGHAM 2,

' HULTIPLYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.1b.

CSR 51 COL UM ill/ Luna INVENTOR I ATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1939. J. M.CUNNINGHAM 4, IULTIPLYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1935 5.Sh eets-Sheet 3Ff RACK Q INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1939. J. M. CUNNINGHAM MULTIRLYINGMACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 wuu Nuu l 36 INVENTOR 4X.ATTORNEY Patented-Oct. 3, i939 PATENT OFFICE 2,174,690 MULTIPLYINGmourns James M. Cunningham, Endicott, N. Y., assignor to InternationalBusiness Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application December 12, 1935, Serial No. 54,019

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in multiplying machines and moreparticularly to machines of the record card controlled type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide mechanism forreducing the necessary operations involved in the multiplication of twofactors to a minimum.

- A more specific object is to provide mechanism for sensing themagnitude of the factors to be multiplied and selecting the one havingthe lesser number of significant digits as the multiplier. In the typeof multiplying machine to which the invention is applied, a number ofmultiplying cycles is performed which is equal to the number ofsignificant digits in the multiplier factor regardless of the size ofthe multiplicand. For example, with a multiplicand of 205 and amultiplier of 67423, five multiplying cycles are required in presentmachines. In accordance with the present invention, the number 205 isautomatically selected to be the multiplier whereby the number ofmultiplying cycles is reduced to two with a consequent reduction of wearand savin in the time required to perform the multiplying operations..The machine is provided with two accumulators generally called theMultiplier entry device" and the Multiplicand-entry device" and it is anobject of the invention to sense the factors perforated on a record cardand automatically enter the lesser factor into the "Multiplier entrydevice. The'factors appear in two fields 1 of a record-card andeachfieid is normally connected to one of the entry devices.

a If the field connected to the Multiplier entry device" is found tohave the greater number of significant digits, the connections arereversed and such factor is entered into the Multiplicand entry device".If the factors both have the same number of significant digits,theconnections remain undisturbed even if the multiplier factor has agreater value; I

- Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obviousfrom the following ,par-

ticular description of one form of mechanism;

embodying the invention or from an inspection of the "accompanyingdrawings; and the invention also constitutes certain new and usefulfeasotures of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set ,forth dclaimed.

' In thedrawings:

.Figs. la, lb, and lo tal'en together and plac one above the other inthe. order named constitute a complete wiring diagram of the electriccircuits of the multiplying machine provided with the features of thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the record card feeding andanalyzing mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a specimen of a record card showing the manner in which thetwo factors are perforated in separate fields.

Fig. 4 is a timing diagram of the electrical devices of the machine. m

The machine to which the invention has been applied will first bebriefly described and reference may be made to my Patent No. 1,933,714,granted November 7, 1933, for the specific details of construction andoperation. Record cards R, such as shown in Fig. 3, which have twofields such asare labelled Quantity and Price are placed in the supplyhopper ill of. the machine (Fig. 2). From herea picker ii will advancethe cards, one by one, from the bottom of a the stack to feed rollers I!which feed the card to pass a row of brushes l3 and a single brush it.The card is further advanced by and around a contact drum l5 to pass arow of analyzing brushes it which sense and control the-entry of thefactors into the multiplier and multiplicand entry receiving devices.The card then proceeds v into the punching unit of the machine where,later, the computed product is punched back in the card as indicated inFig. 3. 80 While multiplying operations proceed in accordance with thefactors on a card the next following card will have been advanced to aposition wherein the row of index point positions in which zeros occurlies beneath the row of brushes .l 3 and it is through these brushesthat the lesser factor is determined before the card is advanced to passthe brushes It as will be described later. The cards are advanced withthe "9 index point positions leading and when the feed mechanism 40comestorest, the leading margin will be under brushes It, the row of 0index point positions will be at the row of brushes l3 and the row of Xindex point positions will be under the brush ll.

Closure of the main line switch SW (Fig. 1c) places the motor M inoperation which motor drives the AC-DC generator so labelled (Figs. laand 1c) to supply directcurrent to DC lines Y I! and I8, and alternatingcurrent to ground and to a line l9 (Fig. la).

The start key contacts 20 (Fig. 1c) are now closed by depression of thestart key button which completes a circuit from the DC line It, througha relay coil 0, contacts 20, now closed,

upper contacts GI, cam contacts FC2 to line H. The coil 0 establishes aholding circuit through its contacts C2 and cam contacts FCB. The coilC, when energized, also closes a pair of contacts Cl (shown in the upperpart 01' Fig. 1a) which will complete a circuit from line It, normallyclosed contacts Fl, card feed clutch magnet 2|, cam contacts F06, stopkey contacts 22, contacts Cl, punch feed rack contacts Pl, to line H.

Energization of clutch magnet 2l will cause withdrawal of a card fromthe supply magazine Ill (Fig. 2) and will advance it to the analyzingbrushes l3 and then to the brushes It to a position where the leadingedge is 'just under the brushes l6. During the movement of the card, thecard lever is engaged to close card lever contacts 24 (Fig. 10) whichcomplete a circuit from line H, contacts 24, relay magnet H to line l8.In starting up the machine, it is necessary to hold down the start keyto maintain contacts closed during the first complete card feedingoperation, or, alternatively, to depess the start key a second time. Atthe beginning of the second card feed cycle, the closure of cam contactsFCll will energize relay magnet G through a circuit including the cardlever contacts 24.

Relay magnet G will close its normally open contacts Gl, setting up aholding circuit through cam contacts F02 and will also close contacts G2to provide a further holding circuit through the card lever contacts 24.These two holding circuits alternate in maintaining relay magnet Genergized as long as cards continue to feed from the magazine.

The relay magnet H is also providedwith a holding circuit which extendsthrough card lever contacts 24 or serially through relay contacts G2 andcam. contacts F02. The relay contacts Hl (Fig. 1a) are-shifted to thereverse of the position shown in this figure, thereby supplying cur-.

rent to the impulse distributor 25. The circuit extends from the ACgenerator through line I! to the now closed contacts HI, cam contactsFC'I, distributor 25, contact drum l5, from which circuits will becompleted through the analyzing brushes L6 to efiect entries into theaccumulator magnets 26MC and 26M? representing the multiplicand andmultiplier accumulators respectively. These circuits extend from thesockets of brushes it through plug connections 21 to sockets 28 andthence through normally closed relay contacts 29a to magnets 26MC and26MB As shown in Fig. 1a, the four brushes l8 to the left which sensethe Quantity' field of the card R are thus normally connected to themagnets -26MC and the four brushes l6 to the right which sense the"Price" field of the card are normally connected to the magnets 26MP.According to the present invention as will be set forth hereinafter, therelay magnet 29 is energized when the value sensed by the right hand setof brushes l6 has a greater number of significant digits than the valuesensed by the left hand set of brushes IS.

The resulting shifting of relay contacts 29a will reverse theconnections so that through wires 20, the left hand set of brushes willcontrol the entry into the magnets 26M? and the right hand set ofbrushes will control the entry into the magnets 26MC, thus establishingthe value having the lesser number of significant digits as themultiplier.

After the first card has traversed the brushes IE it continues into thetray of the punching unit, and upon its arrival there, it causes closure01' Punch card lever contacts 3i (Figs. 2 and 10) which causeenergization of. relay magnet F. With relay magnet F energized, itscontacts Fl will be shifted from the position shown, thus interruptingthe circuit to the card feed clutch magnet 2| to suspend card feeding.The closure of normally open contacts Fl establishes a circuit from lineIt, now closed contacts Fl, cam contacts 002, trip magnet 32 of thepunching-unit to call the clutch mechanism of such unit into operationto advance the card therein, the circuit continuing through ejectcontacts PI and relay contacts Kl which at this time are in positionreverse to that shown.

The contacts K1 are controlled by relay magnet K which is energizedthrough contacts 34 inthe punching unit. These are the so-called lastcard column contacts, closed whenever the card advancing carriage of thepunching unit is in last column punching position, which position itoccupies when the operation of the entire machine is first started sothat upon starting, relay magnet K is energized and its contacts Kl arein shifted position. The. cards are handled in the card punching unit inthe customary manner as set forth in my above mentioned Patent No.1,933,714. I

As the analyzed card is advanced to the punching mechanism, a circuit iscompleted upon closure of cam contacts C02 (Fig. 1a) from line ll,contacts C02, contacts K2, (now closed) contacts L2, contacts F2 (nowclosed) to magnet LH and thence to ground. Magnet lfLH causes resettingof the so-called LH accumu ator which receives the left hand componentsof the partial products as will be explained later. During the resettingoperation contacts 26 and 31 (Fig. 1c) are closed, establishing acircuit from line H, upper contacts 26, contacts 31, wire 28 (Figs. lband la), relay magnet M, wire 39 to line ll. A further circuit branchesfrom wire 28 (Fig. 1c) through relay magnet L to line l8 and theconsequent closure of contacts Ll will provide a holding circuit fromline H, wire 40, punch feed rack contact, wire 42, contacts Ll, magnet Lto line ll, branching also through wire 38, relay magnet M, wire ll, toline ll. Relay magnet M closes its contacts M2 to provide a furtherholding circuit for the relays, extending from line It, wire 29, relayM, contacts M2, wire 43 (Figs. 1b and 1c)v to the normally closedcontacts 44 and thence to line H. Contacts 44 are open during thesubsequent operation wherein the MC accumulator is reset and until suchtime, relay magnet M willv remain energized.

Magnet M is the so-called master relay magnet of cycle controlling unitand it calls the cycle controller into operation to determine thelocation of the significant figures in the multiplier. The circuitthrough the wire 38 also extends to the zero segments of the MPROreadout. If any of the brushes of this MPRO readout stand at zero,selected ones of the magnets Yu, Yt, etc., will be energized accordingto which denominational orders of the multiplier contain zeros.

The magnets Yu, Yt, etc. control contacts Yu-a, Yt--2, etc. throughwhich circuits are completed to the column shift relay magnets 081:,0st, etc and to the multiplying relay magnets 41. In those positions inwhich the multiplier digit is zero, the associated magnet Yu, Yt, etc.will be energized and the related contacts Yu-2, Yt2,'etc. will beshifted from the position shown in the diagram so that the relatedmagnet CSu, CSt, etc. will be disconnected from the circuit which istraceable irom line ll, cam

. zeros occur. With magnet 41 energized (for example the X magnet 41),the related contacts shown in the center of Fig. la will become closedand with the emitter 48 in operation, impulses will be emitted throughthe contacts of the times 5 multiplier, through the MCRO readout andthence through the column shift relay contacts CSL and CSR shown at thetop of Fig. 1b and partial product entries will be directed into the LHand RH accumulators accordingly. The- CSL and CSR relay contacts arecontrolled by the relay magnets CSu, CSt, etc. and serve to effect theproper denominational allocation of the partlal products entries. Thus,when multiplying is being effected by the units digit of the multiplier,the units magnet CSu is energized and the units set of contacts CSL andCSR. are closed.

- Energization of a relay magnet (38a, (38%, etc.

will also close a pair of contacts CSw-3, CSt3, etc. (Fig; la) whichwill cause energization of the relay magnet Yu, Yt, etc. in the order inwhich multiplying is taking place. This in turn will shift the relatedpair of. contacts l5a. so that when cam contacts C02 again close, theaforetraced circuit will be directed through the'hcagnet 0811, CSt, etc.in the order containing the next higher significant figure and will skipthe magnets CSu, CSt, etc. in positions in which zeros are present.

The machine continues multiplying operations during which the partialproducts are entered in succession into the LH- and RH accumulators.

After a multiplying cycle has been effected for each significantmultiplier digit, all of the magnets Yu, Yt, etc. will have beenenergized and all of the contacts Yu--2. Yt-2 will be in their shiftedpositions so that on the next following cycle the closure of camcontacts 002 will complete the circuit which extends through all of thenow closed contacts Yu-2, Yt-Z to the relay magnet 49 and reset magnetSGMC. A parallel circuit also extends through cam contacts FCIO andreset magnets SUMP. The latter magnets connect the MC and MPaccumulators for resetting operations which take place during the nextcycle to zeroize these accumulators.

Relay magnet 49 closes its contacts 49a (Fig.

"1b) to connect the readout section RHRO to the entering magnets 26LH ofthe LH accumulator to permit the transfer of the sum ofthe vrlghthandpartial products into the LH accumulator to produce the completeproduct.

The circuits involved in this transferring operation extend from theemitter 48 (Fig. la) through a group of. wires 5| iFig. lb)- to the RHROreadout device from whence the circuits will continue through contacts49a to adding magnets IBLH. During this cycle in which the MC and MPaccumulators are reset concurrently with the RH to LH'transferoperation, the "normally closed contacts 44 (Fig. which are operated by.a cam on the MC reset shaft, will open to interrupt the circuit to thecycle controlling-relay magnets Yu,-Yt, etc., thus causingdeenergization of all these magnets and the interruption of theirrelated contacts.

When the contacts 44 are shifted from the position shown in Fig. 10, a'circuit is completed through relay magnet D which sets up a holdingcircuit through its contacts D2 and cam contacts CCI. The relay magnet Dalso closes a pair of relay contacts DI which serves to connect theemitter 52 to line I 9 so that during the next cycle impulses areemitted therethrough to the LHRO readout section and circuits arecompleted to the plug sockets 53 from whence, through suitable plugconnections such as 54 to sockets 55, the

. amount standing in the LHRO section will be entered in magnets 26SP ofthe summary products accumulator.

During the RH to LH transfer cycle, closure of a pair of contacts 4%(Fig. 1a) permits the completion of a circuit near the end of the cycleextending from emitter 48 through relay contacts 49b and reset magnetsSORH to efiect resetting of the RH accumulator. Also during the cycle inwhich the MC accumulator is reset, contacts 56 (Fig. 1c) are closed tocomplete a circuit through relay magnet C whose contacts hold thecircuit through cam contacts F08.

Contacts CI are also closed at this time to energize the card feedclutch magnet 2i to feed the next card to pass the analyzing brushes i5and during such passage the factors are entered into the appropriate MCand MP accumulators.

Closure of cam contacts F04, due to operation of the card feedmechanism, will complete a circuit through relay magnet B which closesits contacts B2 to provide a holding circuit through contacts 36. MagnetB controls the punching operation which takes place concurrently withcard feeding. The detailed operation of the punching mechanism is setforth in the patent referred.

to and the same will be but briefly described herein to explain thecircuits involved in the operation.

- Energization of relay magnet B effects closure of its associatedcontacts Bl (Fig. 10) which complete a circuit from line H, throughcontacts Bl, normally closed contacts 5'5, switch 5t, wire 59 (Fig. 1b)to the common strip 60 of the column selector of the punching unit. Asthe punched card carriage advances, the brush 61 connects the strip 60to segments 62 in succession as corresponding columns of the record cardare in punching position. From the segments 62 which are connected toplug sockets 63 connections 64 are made to the readout sockets B5 of theLHRO readout device in the orders in which it is desired to have theproduct punched. The circuits continue through the wires 66 to punchselecting magnets 61 and thence to line i8. Energization of any magnet61 will cause closure of a pair'of contacts 68 (Fig. 10) to complete acircuit to the punch magnet 69 which efi'ects a perforation in theappropriate index point position of the card column and also efiects anoperation of theescapement mechanism to advance the card to the nextcolumn to receive punching.

After all the selected columns have been perforated in accordance withthe controlling prodnot, the card carriage escapes to the so-called lastcolumn position in which contacts 34 are closed, energizing relay magnetK. This relay closes its contacts K2 to .effect resetting of the LHaccumulator and also shifts its contacts Kl to energize the ejectm'agnet85 (Fig. 10) to eject the punched card, following which trip magnet 32is energized to advance the next card to the punches.

The foregoing described briefly the general operation of a commercialmultiplying punch whose sequence of operations may be summarized asfollows:

its in the multiplier Seventh cycle-Reset MP and MC accumulators,

transfer RH to LH.

The improvements of the present invention will now be set forth and theoperation of this mechanism takes place during the card feeding cyclesfor which the timing of the electrical devices is shown in Fig. 4. v Thebrushes I3 which sense the zero index point position of the card fieldscontaining the factors are connected to plug sockets 70 from which plugconnections ll are made to sockets 12 which are connected to segments ofemitters 13 and i4.

Eight brushes l3 are provided for each factor and where all eightcolumns of the card are used the eight sockets 72 of each 'emitter areplug connected. The brushes of the emitters l3, 14 are in constantrotation and they engage their respective segments as indicated on .thetiming diagram. Near the end of the card feeding operation, as a cardcomes to rest with its zero index point positions beneath brushes I3,

cam contacts FCI'I close, causing energization of relay magnet Z whichin turn closes its contacts Zl to provide a holding circuit through camcontacts CC5. This circuit is maintained during the next cyclethroughout the period that the emitter brushes make contact with theirsegments and is then opened. The magnet Z also closes its contacts Z2and Z3 so that circuits may be completed to stepping magnets l5, 16. Ifa zero is present in the column connected to the 9 emitter segment, acircuit will be completed which is traceable from line H, cam contactsF05, brush common, zero hole in the card, brush l3, socket 10,connection ll, socket 12, 9 emitter segment, contacts Z2 or Z3, magnetsI5 or 16 to line |8. When the emitter brush has advanced to the "8segment, the circuit will be again completed if a zero is present in theassociated column and magnet 15 or 16 will again be energized. Thus, foreach zero sensed by brushes l3, a magnet 75 or 18 will receive oneimpulse.

The magnets 15 and 16 control so-called stepping or counting relays andeach energization will actuate a pawl and lever 11 to advance a ratchet18 one step or tooth. Integral with one of the ratchets I8 is a brush 19which progressively contacts with fixed commutator segments 80 andintegral with the other ratchet is 'a group of electrically connectedbrushes 0| which contact with fixed commutator segments 82.

The segments 80 iiid 82 are interconnected by wires 88 as shown andcontrol the energize.- tion of relay magnet 28 in such manner that themagnet becomes energized when the factor sensed by the brush I9 hasadvanced more steps than the brushes 8| and remains deenetgized when thebrush I9 has advanced the same number of or fewer steps than the brushes8|.

-The operation of the device may best be explained by reference toparticular examples. Let it first be assumed that neither factorcontains zero. Neither magnet 15 nor 16 will be energized and thebrushes 19, 8| remain in the positions shown. During the next followingcard feeding cycle as the presensed card is advanced to the brushes I5,cam contacts FCIB close and complete a connection from line I! tobrushes 3| and wires 83. Since none of the segments 88 is in contactwith brush 19 no circuit is completed to magnet 29. If brush 19 had beenadvanced one step to contact the first segment 88, the circuit would becompleted through the lowermost wire 83, first segment 80, brush 1!,magnet 29, to line l8. This circuit is continued. by contacts FCIG asthe card passes the sensing brushes l6 and since contacts 29a (Fig. 1a)are shifted by the energization of magnet 29 the factors are enteredreversely into the multiplisand and multiplier receiving accumulators.

Consider now the amounts shown in the card of Fig. 3 with the brushes |3labelled Quantity and Price sensing the zero index point positions ofthe similarly designated card fields.

The Price field is normally arranged to enter into the MP accumulatorand the Quantity" field into the MC accumulator so that the Price" wouldordinarily control the number of multiplying cycles which would be fivefor the value 67423. It may be mentioned here that for certain types ofwork the field set aside to receive items of a designated kind arefilled out with zeros to the left of the first significant figure andthese are also sensed.- by the brushes i3.

Thus for the Price 67423, punched in the eight-column field as 00067423,the related magnet 15 is energized three times and for the Quantity 205,punched in the other eight-column field as 00000205, the related magnet16 is energized six times, so positioning the brushes i9 and 8| that thesubsequently completed circuit for energizing magnet 29 will becompleted through the third wire 83 from the top (emphasized by a heavyline), the brush 79 in contact with the sixth segment 80 and the thirdbrush 8| from the left which is now in contact with the segment 82 atthe terminal of the heavy-line wire 83. Consequently the enteringconnections are reversed and the "Quantity value 205 is entered as themultiplier.

In the example of Fig. 3, the amounts in fields which control thereversing magnet 29 are also entered into the MP and MC accumulators butit will be appreciated that the fields from which entries are so mademay be two different fields. Thus, one pair of fields may determinewhether connections for another pair of fields are to be reversed ornot, or by omitting one set of entering connections such as those to theMC accumulator, the device will determine simply whether the amount inone field is to be entered or not entered.

In cases where the same number of card columns are not allotted to thetwo factors it is necessary to effect further plug connections 81between sockets 88 (Fig. 1c) and sockets 12 so that the same number ofsockets 12 are connected for each factor. The reason for thisarrangement will be apparent if for example it be considered that a twocolumn field designates Prlce." Thus with a- Quantity" of 25 and aPrice" 01425, ifonly these five columns were connected to theirrespective emitters H and I 13, no impulses would be transmitted toeither magnet 16 or and the "Price would remain connected to the MPaccumulator. If a. plug connection 81 is made between a socket 86 andthe "7? socket 12,the magnet 16 will receive one impulse through acircuit extending from line l1, cam contacts F05, socket 86, connection81, "7 socket I2, relay contacts Z3, magnet 16 to line it and theconnections would accordingly be reversed to enter the Quantity 25 asthe multiplier.

During the cycle following the one in which the factors are read fromthe card, cam contacts FCI5 close during the period indicated in Fig. 4

to complete a circuit from line l1, contacts FCl 5,

and resetting magnets 90 of the stepping relays,

to line. Ill. The magnets in the usual manner move the stepping pawlsout of engagement with the ratchets I8 so that they may be returned tostarting position by the usual springs (not shown).

While there has been shown and described and pointed out thefundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, itwill be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changesin the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operationmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. Itis the intention therefore to be limited onlyas indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Ina record controlled multiplying machine, means for feeding a recordcard having a pair of fields, each field comprising a plurality ofcolumns and eachcolumn containing a perforation representing a-digit orzero, means for sensing the perforations in said fields, entry receivingdevices controlled thereby, connections between said sensing means andsaid devices, further sensing means and means controlled thereby forcounting the number of zero representing perforations in each field andmeans controlled by said counting means for modifying the connectionsbetween said first named sensing means and said entry receiving devices.

2. In a machine of theclass described, means forsensing a multi-columnarfield of a record card for desigiations representing an amount, meansfor sensing a second 'multi-columnar field of said record card fordesignations representing another amount, each colunm of said fieldscontaining a designation representing'either a significant digit or zeroand each field containing the same number of columns, an entry receivingdevice, alternative connections between said device and both of saidsensing means, further sensing means responsive to certain of thedesigby said ascertaining means for rendering said alternativeconnections effective to connect the sensing means related to thefield'having the lesser number of significant digits to said entryreceiving device.

3. In a record controlled multiplying machine, a pair of entry receivingdevices, entering means for each, means for analyzing a pair of fieldsof a record card for perforations representing two factors, meansnormally connecting the entering means of one device with the analyzingmeans of one of said fields, means normally connecting the enteringmeans of the second device with the analyzing means of the second field,further analyzing means, means controlled thereby for counting thenumber of zeros present in each factor and means controlled by said lastmeans for causing a reversal of said connecting means toconnecttheentering means of the first device to the analyzing means ofthe second field and the entering means of the second device to theanalyzing means of the first 4. In a multiplying machine, a presensingmeans, a main sensing means, means for advancing a record card to bothsaid means in succession, said card having two fields'of the same numberof columns and each column containing a designation representing asignificant digit or zero, means controlled by said presensing means forascertaining the relative numbers of signifimeans.

5. In a multiplying machine, .a presensing means, a main sensing means,means for advancing a record card to both said means in succession, saidcard having two fields of the same number of columns and each columncontaining a designation representing a significant digit or zero, meanscontrolled by said presensing means in response to the sensing of zerorepresenting designations for counting the number of zero designationsin each of said fields, an entry receiving device, connections betweensaid device and said main sensing means normally connecting the same,and means controlled by said counting means when a predetermined one ofsaid fields contains a greater number. of zero designations forinterrupting said connections to disconnect said device from said mainsensing means.

6. The invention set forth in claim 5 in which said advancing meansisarranged to bring the card to rest at said presensing means forsensing of the zero designations while at rest and to move the card topass the main sensing means'for analysis of all digit representingdesignations while in motion and in which the means controlled by thecounting means is arranged to maintain said connections interruptedwhile the card passes said main sensing means.

' JAWS M. CUNNINGHAM.

